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Sports Technology

While it has long been “common knowledge” that sports and recreation are essential to the successful rehabilitation of people with disabilities, this had not been shown empirically until HERL completed its Sport Participation Outcomes Research Tool And Comprehensive Uniform Survey (Sportacus) study, which used a questionnaire to poll Veteran athletes with mobility impairments during the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG) about the role sports have had on their rehabilitation and their lives in general. The responses showed that sports and recreation is fundamental to the successful rehabilitation and reintegration of people with disabilities.

HERL researchers noted that field events (shot-put, discus, javelin) were very popular, but that the technology was outdated, and the seating at the 2008 Paralympics did not meet the needs of many of the athletes. Therefore, after studying field events, using ergonomic practices and good seating principles, HERL developed a throwing chair suitable for all, from novices to Paralympic athletes.

Building on SmartWheel technology, HERL created the Racing SmartWheel in order to measure the forces that act on wheelchair racers and improve racing wheelchair technology. We also do extensive work with sensor technology for wheelchair athletes, most notably for wheelchair basketball and sled hockey.

Veterans’ sports events are very important to HERL’s research, and we are pleased to send representatives each year not just to the NVWG, but also to the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, the National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic, and the Warrior Games.In 2011, the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System hosted the NVWG, for which HERL Director and NVWG athlete Dr. Rory Cooper acted as Chair of the Local Organizing Committee.